Hill: My track record is appealing to players

http://www.barnsley-chronicle.co.uk/sport/article/5234/hill-my-track-record-is-appealing-to-players

 

New season, get them ******** out and give em a polish.

 

I'd be surprised if anyone was showing any interest in McNulty.

 

I wouldn't be. He went from being injury prone elsewhere, to getting a full season with us at first time of asking. He played more matches last season at our level than he had in the previous three seasons combined at a lower level. Granted towards the end of the season he dropped off, but he'd never played over 40 championship games before or anything like it so probably got tired physically as well as mentaly. He will come on from his decent start with us last season and can play in a number of positions. If other clubs bid for him this summer it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

 

I've been agreeing with you a lot of late but can't agree on this. I thought he looked steady early on but once we started shipping goals (October onwards) I wasn't too impressed. Fair enough he has kept himself fit but I think most clubs would demand a bit more from their players other than not being injured. If someone offers 50K I'd bite their hands off.

 

I think McNulty was quality tbh. When we had our full midfield available, and were scoring goals/gaining points for fun, he looked a snip at 75k. As good as Shackell IMO, considering the wage difference/transfer fees. But once we lost Butterfield, Vaz Te, Drinkwater, O'Brien and Perkins, the defence had nothing in front of them to bail them out. Losing Hassell too was a blow. We had no creativity in the centre (Butterfield/Drinkwater). No flair from wide positions (Vaz Te). No delivery for Davies up top (O'Brien/Butterfield). And no protective screen for the back four (Perkins/Drinkwater). We had an average center half (Edwards/Foster), a pair of awful full backs defensively (Wiseman/McEveley), and then Jimmy McNulty - a lad who had spent most of his career either at Caernafon Town/Bangor City, or on the treatment table with serious injuries. He shone like a beacon for me, until as I say we lost our fantastic five.
He was prone to the odd mishap, but mainly down to him wanting to play football the Barnsley way. You can't tell me that if you replaced McNulty with Shackell, from February onwards, that we'd have done any better during that awful run. There was absolutely naff all in midfield or up front, especially when Matty Done joined the injury list. Bloody Dagnall, Nouble, Gray, Cotterill, Tonge, Smith... Thank God we won't be seeing the majority of those again at Oakwell.
But McNulty? An absolute bargain at 75k, and I fully expect him to flourish this season, and end up leaving for 500k in January. Along with Dagnall who'll score 25 goals by November, and of course Wiseman, who'll force his way into the England squad for the World Cup qualifier with Timbuktu.

 

I think Shackell was overrated but he is a better player than McNulty. If he was playing last season we probably would have conceded a few less but the outcome of the match would have been the same as we weren't scoring.

 

That's not how you spell appalling

.

 

its to be hoped keefy boy int on about the run since new year,we'll end up with nobody on that kind of form.....

 

Re: That's not how you spell appalling

bugger ....beat me to it

 

His fitness wont drop off later in the coming season, not once he's done his heat training in Spain.

 

Shackell was over-rated? Oh, you're serious.

 

Agree about McNulty. Alongside a no-nonsense, experienced CB he would look good. He was probably our best CB last season. He had his moments but he was solid enough in his own game and he at least tries to play football which the others can't. I would change the other 3 positions in the back 4 before Jimmy.

 

Dear Keith.

Firstly McNulty got worse under you. He set off steady and got gradually worse until he was an absolute liability for the last few months of the season.

Secondly you can piss right off if you think you're taking the credit for developing Digby. He was being talked about while you and most of your current players were still at rochdale.

 

Running round the Med in bin liners.

 

I'm not saying anymore; I don't have a clue what I am talking about.

 

I'd be ****ing shocked and amazed if any manager of any club are showing an interest in any of our defenders. . . .

 

Me too, I would also be amazed if any top players were actually rushing to get here!!

 

You have got to hand it to the guy, he is the best manager there has ever been since Brian Clough .......... in his own head

 

He's reight, though. Gives lower league laikers a chance and has a track record of making 'em better players. Le Fondre, Murray, Dawson, Vaz Te, Buckley, Drinkwater, Butterfield etc etc.

If Scott Parker is a captain of England Stephen Dawson will be playing in the Champions League within 3 years.